We are interrupting today’s planned programming to review a manga volume that has hit two benchmarks in Okazu’s history. Both good. ^_^

Risou to Koi (理想と恋) by Hino Youhe is a collection of several stories of adult life manga – of which I liked every single story. I do not believe this has ever happened before.

The entire concept of the volume is lovely, in fact. “My Ideal, My Love” is the English subtitle and that is pretty much what it’s about. A woman falls for someone who is her perfect ideal, and find herself learning about the person behind that ideal…and then falling in love with the person. In every case, the journey is mutual.

In one story, a woman who works for a delivery company realizes that’s she’s delivering packages to her favorite pop idol. The idol realizes that’s she fallen for the delivery person when an injury forces the company to send someone else. They bridge the distance when they recognize their feelings are mutual.

And every story is pretty much like that. A baker is attracted to a clothing designer, who is forced to admit that she’s a starving artist and cannot go clothes shopping. The two start going out, but stick to things that one can do for free, like picnics.

The final story is multi-chapter, taking up the second half of the book. A woman attends a local theater production and become smitten with the lead actress.  She joins the theater group, where she has to really think about her life and what she wants out of it. This story has the second benchmark moment – an actual coming out scene. The troupe leader mentions that he’s gay, to which Mayuko grudgingly admits that she is not interested in men. But later as she speaks with the lead, Ruri, who is pressing her on what her ideal is, Mayuko says that she is gay…and that she wants to be ordinary. Immediately after which, Ruri continues to encourage Mayuko to see her own talent and the walls she’s built around herself. Ultimately, Mayuko confesses her feelings and is feeling all lost in self-loathing, but Ruri is there to catch her and support her and we suspect that Ruri is a very good thing for Mayuko and vice versa.

This was a really nice book to read. Every story left me feeling hopeful. The obi reads “Rave review from Morishima Akiko-shi!” and to that, they could, if they want, add “rave review from Erica Friedman!” because there was nothing about this volume I didn’t like. Art was adult and cute and clean, the stories were solid, all the characters were likable and the conflicts were real-world issues, that were handled with kindness.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 9
LGBTQ – 8
Service – 1 on principal only

Overall – 9

A very strong volume by an author from whom I hope to see more.